Side bearing



J. F. OCONNOR.

SIDE BEARING.

NOV-28.191

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Ii 1 III y Inc/62254: Ja/Enlrfizuzar UNlTED STATES PATENT GFFEE.

JOHN F. OGONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. MINER, F CHAZY, NEW YORK.

SIDE BEARING.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OCoNNoR, a citizen of United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Side Bearings, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in side bearings.

The object of the invention is to provide an anti-friction bearing especially adapted for use as a side bearing on railway cars and which is of strong durable construction and wherein the anti-friction element is self centering and self-alining.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevational view of a side bearing embodying my improvements showing the same in position on a truck bolster, the latter being indicated in section. Fig.2 is a sectional View of the bearing corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the anti-friction element proper of the bearing. And Fig. 4c is a sectional view of the anti-friction element taken substantially on the line H of Fig. 2.

In said drawing, 10 denotes the upper part of a truck bolster to which the improved bearing is adapted to be attached. The improved bearing, as shown, comprises, broadly, a retaining member or base casting designated by the reference A and an antifriction element designated generally by the reference B.

The base casting or retaining member A, is of substantially hollow box-like form having spaced parallel side walls 11-11 end walls 12 bottom wall 13 and corner lugs 14l1 by which it is adapted to be secured to the bolster as by means of rivets or other suitable fastening devices. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2, the bottom wall 13 of the member A forms asuitable bearing surface for the anti-friction element B.

The anti-friction element B, as shown, consists of two sections B andiB The section B is provided on its lower side with a spherical boss 15 and the section B is provided with a corresponding spherical concavity so that the two sections B and B Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920. No. 341,013.

are relatively adjustable. It will also be noted that the bearing provided between the two spherical surfaces is comparatively large, thereby giving a strong construction since the pressure is transmitted between the two sections over such a large area and always with the parts under direct compression. The upper section B is provided with an upper cylindrical bearing surface 17 adapted to engage the under side of the body bolster and the lower section B is provided with a cylindrical surface 18 on its under side, the said surfaces 17 and 18 being concentric with the axis extending lengthwise of the bolster.

In order to prevent unlimited rotation of the upper section B with respect to the lower section B about a vertical axis, the lower section B is provided with a centrally disposed rib 19 which extends in a plane coinciding with the longitudinal axis of theranti-friction element B, that is. in a vertical plane parallel to the bolster when the anti-friction element B is in its central normal position. Said rib 19 seats within a corresponding arcuate groove 20 formed on the under side of the upper section B. With this construction, it will be noted that the two sections B and B are relatively ad justable about an axis extending transversely of the axis of the anti-friction element B as an entirety so that the bearing surfaces 18 and 19 may be automatically adjustable to compensate for changes in the angular relation of the bearing surfaces of the body and truck bolsters.

To secure the sections B and B against separation while at the same time permitting the adjustment hereinbefore mentioned,

employ a vertically extending cotter pin 21 and a horizontally extending cotter pin 22, the latter passing through the eye 23 of the former. The cotter pin 21 extends within vertically arranged openings in the sections B and B as clearly indicated in Fig. 4 and the cotter pin 22 extends horizontally in a suitable opening in the section B. The vertical opening for the cotter 21 provided in the section B is laterally enlarged as indicated at 24 to accommodate the eye of the cotter and also permit of the relative adjustment between the two sections B and B n order to make the anti-friction element B self-centering without the necessity of employing any springs or like devices, the

lower section B has its ends extended as indicated at 2525 most clearly in Fig. 2. These extensions 25 have lower edges 26 coinciding with the bearing surfaces 18 and are provided with upper flat edges asindicated at 27, the flat edges 27 being united with the curved edges 26 by surfaces 28 struck on comparatively short radii. With this construction, it is evident that the lower section B overbalances the upper section B and will automatically return the anti-friction element as an entirety to its proper upright position under the influence ofgravity. It is also essential that the anti-friction element 13 be properly maintained with respect to its retaining member A, that is, it is necessary to prevent bodily shifting of the anti-friction element B and thereby eliminate possibility of the anti-friction element coming to rest or equilibrium at any point other than atthc center of the retaining member so that the anti-friction element will always be in position to perform its full travel when brought into operation. To accomplish this latter result, the side walls .11 of the retaining member A are provided with recesses 29-29 in which the projected ends 25 extend. The contour of the edges of the openings 29 is made such that the projected ends 25 will always be in contacttherewith on opposite sides of said projected ends but the antifriction element B will not be prevented from rolling freely. In other words, the edges of the recesses or openings 29 are, in effect, generated by the extended ends 25 ofthe lower section B so as to have said extended ends 25 always in contact with the retaining member A. lVith this construction, the. return of the anti-friction elementfB to its central normal position is insured since the anti-friction element cannot be shifted bodily 'because of the cooperative relation betweenv the extended ends 25 and openings'29 in the side walls of the retaining member.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that I have provided an efficient self-alining self-centering side bearing comprised of few parts, easily operable and with a large bearing contact between the two adjustable sections of the anti-friction element. The construction illustrated is the preferred form but it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims appendedhereto without departing-from the spirit of the invention.

1. In a side bearing, the combination with a hollow retaining member having horizontal bearing surfaces and side walls provided with openings therein, of an antifriction. element mounted-within said member, said element comprising, an upper section and a lower section having cooperating spherical bearing surfaces permitting adjustment between the two sections, the upper peripheral bearing surface of the upper section and the lower peripheral hearing surface of the lower section being concentrically curved, said lower section having overbalancing extended ends disposer within said 0penings, the contours of said ends and openings beingformed to coopcr ate in preventing bodily shifting of the antifriction element as an entirety relatively to the retaining member.

2.-In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a hollow retaining member having spaced side walls provided with openings therein, of an anti-friction element disposed within said etaining member, said element comprising an upper section and a lower ection, said sections having concentric peripheral cylindrical bear said sections having cooperating bearing surfaces curved to permit relative adjustment between the sections about an axis extending transversely of said axis of the anti-friction element, said lower section of the anti-friction element having its ends extended and disposed within said openings, the contours of said extended ends and openings being formed to prevent bodily displacement of the anti-friction element as an entirety relatively to the retaining member.

In a side bearing for railway cars, the combination with a hollow retaining member adapted to be secured to a truck bolster and provided with .a bottom wall and spaced side walls, the latter having recesses therein, of an anti-friction element comprising two sections, said sections having cooperating spherical contacting bearing surfaces, one of said sections having a rib and the other a cooperating groove to thereby limitthe adjustment between the two sections in a plane parallel to the rib, said sections having peripheral concentric cylindrical surfaces the common ?-axis of which is disposed within said plane located by the rib, said: lower section having its ends extended and disposed within said recesses of the sidewalls of the retaining member, the contours of said extended ends and the recesses cooperating to prevent 3 In witness that I' claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20thda'y of'Nov;, 1919.

' f JOHN OQONNOR. 

